Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3202

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Lexchin J.
The real pushers: a critical analysis of the Canadian drug industry
1984;

Abstract:

Drug companies promote their products not to educate doctors but to increase sales. Some of the ways that they do this are by using sales representatives, journal advertising, giving out samples and sending direct mail to doctors. All of these methods convey only selected and often misleading information. Voluntary self-regulation has not been successful in controlling the excesses in promotion.

Keywords:
*analysis/Canada/sales representatives/journal advertisements/direct mail/drug samples/profit motive/ promotion costs and volume/regulation of promotion/ Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (Can)/ Pharmaceutical Manfacturers Association of Canada/ references/images in ads/women/sexism/doctors/ influence techniques/preclearance of advertisements/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMMERCIAL DRUG COMPENDIA/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DETAILING/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT MAIL/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: INFLUENCE TECHNIQUES/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: SAMPLES/IMAGES IN PROMOTION: WOMEN/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: MEDICALIZATION OF PROBLEMS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: DOCTORS/PROMOTION DISGUISED: APPOINTMENTS AND RETAINERS/PROMOTION IN SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC AREAS: PSYCHIATRIC DISEASES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: AUTONOMOUS BODIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: COMPLIANCE, SANCTIONS, STANDARDS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION/VOLUME OF AND EXPENDITURE ON PROMOTION